The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-07

carded habiliments, was hurrying back
through the orchard without even a
parting look from Miss Vanvarre,
whose attention was claimed by the
irrepressible Tommy.
When half an hour afterward Brown,
clothed and in his right mind, de-
scended with fast beating heart to
the old-fashioned sitting room, he
found it empty.
Miss Vanvarre had gone down the
street to buy fireworks for Tommy
Briggs, who had accompanied her, and
it was not till long after supper that
Brown was able to obtain speech of the
fair girl, who, with a shyness entirely
foreign to her usual frank self-posses-
sion, seemed to evade his approach.
In front of the piazza Tommy Briggs,
in company with select circle of jul
venile friends, was sending up rockets
and Roman candles, while the sur
rounding atmosphere was sibilant with
whizzing pin-wheels and kissing SER
penis of fire.
Doris, IN some airy white fabric,
stood leaning against one of the piazza
pillars with a half dreamy look in her
violet eyes, which fell suddenly before
her lovers ardent glance.
Doris" he whispered, as he took
her unresisting hand, ''at last l cam
"Pop-pop-pop'' went half a bunch
of fire-crackers. tossed at their feet by
playful Tommy Briggs.
Almost simultaneously shrill scream
from Mrs. Briggs, in the front door,
rent the air.
"Fi-er! water! Miss Doris, your
close is all afre!' shrieked the ex-
cited woman, and almost before the
words had left her lips, Miss Vanvarre's
light dress famed up about her!
There was neither rug or blanket or
strip of carpet nearer than the sitting
room, but quicker almost than the re-
alization of the fact had flashed
through Vandyke Browns mind, he
had stripped off his loose, negiigee coat
of white flannel, and wrapped it about
the fair girls head and shoulders!
Holding her and it closely in the en-
brace of his left arm, he tore fiercely at
the blazing dress fabric with his disen-
gagged hand, crying hoarsely for some
one to bring water-quick. for God )
sake!
Well, it was Tommy Briggs himself
who was first to respond. Tearing to
the spot with two trimming pals
from the horse trough close by, he
dashed the contents one after another
over Miss Vanvarre. who, pressing her
white face to her lovers breast had
uttered neither cry nor moan.
And, too, it was Tommy Briggs who,
without waiting to be told, dashed off
after the doctor, while Miss Vanvarre
was being tenderly carried to her room.
Very early next morning Miss Van
varre, pale and prettier than ever.
came down and passed out on the old
fashioned piazza at the further end of
which Brown, wearing an arm in a
sling, was impatiently pacing to and
fro behind the screening network of
woodbine and wisteria.
MY darling" he said, in how,
glad voice, 1--WE belong to eacA other
now" And as the young girl, shyly
lifting her beautiful eyes to meet his
own. laid both her slim white hands in
the one extended toward her, Vandyke
Brown. forgetful and indeed, care
less-of the possible effect upon his
nervous system, drew her to him in 4
close embrace, and sealed their be-
trothal with a long, lingering
''Yum. YUM
hasten to explain that the above
coarsely-suggestivr utterane. as re-
corded is none of mine. Accompanied
by a gourmandish smack of the lips, it
proceeded from young Briggs, whose
impudent, freckled visage was sud-
denly thrust through the leafy screen.
Leering upon the embarrassed low
ers like young Satyr, Tommy
chuckled joyously, and then, with
drawing his face, dropped on the
green sward among the scattered de-
bris of exploded fireworks, and kicked
his heels together in the ambient air
with ecstatic delight And then they
all went in to breakfast